Joel Robert James Otago: Man accused of Gemelli Italian break-in denied bail

An alleged cyclone looter accused of breaking into an Italian restaurant has appeared in court. Read what happened at his bail application.

Joel Robert James Otago has been accused of entering Gemelli Italian's Broadbeach restaurant and committing an indicatable offence. Gemelli pictured in 2016. Picture: Luke Mardsen

A man who allegedly broke into a restaurant, stole liquor and was found with Chinese cash has had his first court appearance.

Joel Robert James Otago, 40, appeared via videolink from custody at Southport Magistrates Court on Monday as his lawyer applied for his bail.

He is charged with enter premises and commit an indictable offence by break, and unlawful possession of suspected stolen property.

The court heard Otago allegedly threw a rock into a window at Gemelli Italian’s Broadbeach restaurant, entered the restaurant and stole an unspecified amount of liquor around 11.15am on Saturday.

When Otago was searched by police, officers found he had a quantity of Chinese money they suspected had been stolen.

Joel Robert James Otago allegedly entered Gemelli Italian’s Broadbeach restaurant and committed an indictable offence by break. Picture: Luke Marsden.

The court heard Otago was subject to a probation order at the time of the alleged offence and was on bail for other charges, including four counts of stealing.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Nick Wang opposed bail being granted given Otago’s failure to comply with his probation order and his lack of a fixed address.

Otago’s defence lawyer Abbey Huckstep from Legal Aid told the court Otago had been struggling with homelessness for approximately six years.

She said her client didn’t make any excuses for doing the wrong thing at Gemelli Italian and he would be pleading guilty to the enter premises offence, however she told the court that Otago instructed her that he found the foreign currency, rather than stole it.

Business owners’ Alec Carney and Paul Carney with their new Gelato Gemelli in Mermaid Beach. Thursday January 2, 2025. Picture, John Gass

Ms Huckstep asked bail be granted, noting that with Otago’s criminal history, he had the potential risk of serving too much time if not granted bail.

The court heard Otago, who has schizophrenia, depression and ADHD, had not been compliant with his medications.

Magistrate Louise Pink noted Otago’s lengthy criminal history and that he still has a number of other charges before the courts including stealing, common assault and enter premises with intent.

She said there was strong evidence against Otago in respect to the enter premise and commit an indictable offence by break charge.

“I am of the view that given the noncompliance with your probation order, noncompliance with your bail orders, noncompliance with your medication and the nature of the 14 charges pending now already, there is an unacceptable risk of you reoffending,” she said.

Bai was refused.

Otago, who has other matters before the court, will have the two charges listed at his next court appearance on March 25.